[Exclusive] Seoul to Raise 'Transportation Expense Support for Pregnant Women' from 700,000 Won to 1 Million Won for Third Child

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's 'Transportation Expense Support for Pregnant Women' program will increase its support amount based on the number of children. Previously, a flat rate of 700,000 won in transportation expenses was provided regardless of the number of children, but moving forward, the amount will be raised to 800,000 won for the second child and 1,000,000 won for the third child and beyond. For applications submitted by pregnant women with two or more children since January of this year, the new policy will be applied retroactively and automatically, without the need for a separate application.

Subway Priority Seat for Pregnant Women. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

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According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on March 11, the city will expand the transportation expense support for pregnant women according to the number of children within the first half of this year.

Launched in July 2022, the Seoul Metropolitan Government's transportation expense support program for pregnant women provides a voucher worth 700,000 won per pregnant woman. Beneficiaries select one of six partnered credit card companies to apply, and the support is credited as points to the chosen credit card. These points can be used for public transportation such as buses and subways, taxis, personal vehicle fuel costs, or rail (trains).

With the passage of the amendment to the "Ordinance on Support for Childbirth and Childcare in Seoul" by the relevant standing committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council the previous day, it has become possible to increase the support amount according to the number of children. If the amendment passes the plenary session this month, it will be promulgated and implemented by the first half of this year at the latest.

The revised transportation expense support program for pregnant women will see changes in ▲ support amounts ▲ residency requirements ▲ application periods, among other aspects.

First, the support amount will be strengthened for families with multiple children: 700,000 won for the first child, 800,000 won for the second child, and 1,000,000 won for the third child or more. Out of the 51,000 expected recipients of the program this year, an estimated 15,912 are pregnant women with two or more children. Accordingly, the additional budget required for this year is estimated at approximately 1.48 billion won.

A Seoul Metropolitan Government representative explained, "There was a social consensus on the need to expand support for families with multiple children," adding, "This is a response to citizens' demands and the need to address the low birth rate crisis."

Pregnant women with two or more children who applied after January 1 of this year will receive an additional 100,000 or 300,000 won automatically, without having to submit a separate application.

Seoul City 'Transportation Expense Support for Pregnant Women' Project Poster.

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However, the amendment introduces a new requirement: applicants must have resided in Seoul for at least three months. Previously, it was sufficient to reside in Seoul on the application date to be eligible for transportation expense support, but now a minimum three-month residency period has been established.

The application period for transportation expense support has also been extended. Until now, applications were accepted from women who were at least three months pregnant or within three months after childbirth; this has now been expanded to include those from three months of pregnancy up to six months after childbirth.

Pregnant women can apply for transportation expense support online through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Birth and Childcare Information Service without submitting separate documents. If applying during pregnancy, they should first apply for 'Local Government Pregnancy Support Services → Seoul City Transportation Expense Support for Pregnant Women' on the Government24 "Mom’s Easy Pregnancy Application" platform and then proceed to apply on the transportation expense support website.

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